Doctoral Dissertations

Date of Award

12-1986

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

Major

Psychology

Major Professor

Harold Fine

Committee Members

Michael Johnson, Howard Pollio, Stan Lusby

Abstract

The study is a psychoanalytic investigation of selected works of D. H. Lawrence focusing primarily on the novel Sons and Lovers as an example of a novel written before D. H. Lawrence became familiar with psychoanalytic ideas. The analysis secondarily focuses on two other works: Women in Love and Lady Chatterley's Lover. This investigation involves a systematic reading for figural themes and an analysis of these within the context of the novel. A separate analysis of metaphors produced is undertaken. The novels are examined from a psychoanalytic perspective with attention to unconscious fantasy material as reflected in metaphor production. Some supporting references are made to biography, autobiography, and critical reviews.

The central question posed in this study is: Can the unconscious fantasy productions of D. H. Lawrence be understood as a cohesive psychological picture through an analysis of the author 's use of metaphor? One theme in particular emerges as figural, called by this author a "merger" fantasy. This is represented in both thematic-content analysis and in the analysis of metaphor. Material from the two means of analysis are conceptualized according to Smith, Robbins, and Rothstein as reflecting a mix of Oedipal and narcissistic features in a pre-Oedipal personality syndrome where the merger fantasy serves the purpose of warding off separation anxiety.

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